Rosana Eckert - At The End Of The Day (2003)

At the End of the Day is the debut album of Dallas-based jazz vocalist Rosana Eckert. It features her original songs and arrangements and an all-star ensemble of some of Dallas's best and favorite jazz musicians. Inspired by singers like Carmen McCrae and Shirley Horn, Rosana swings with the heart of a big band and delivers a lyric with simplicity and sincerity. Her songwriting covers a wide range of styles with influences from composers like Abbey Lincoln, Bill Evans, Dave Frishberg, and Ivan Lins. The title track, a powerful yet subtle song of love, showcases Rosana’s smooth sound and gentle delivery. That same voice becomes sassy and swingin’ on "Mr. Hooper’s Find it in a Minute Book," an original tune about a book which amazingly contains the answers to any and all questions. Rosana’s creative arrangement of "Something’s Gotta Give" breathes new life into this standard tune from the Rosemary Clooney songbook, and her treatment of Ray Charles’s "One Mint Julep" is clever and fresh. Also included on the CD are commissioned arrangements from renowned vocal jazz arrangers Paris Rutherford and Michele Weir. In Rutherford’s arrangement of Jobim’s "Ela E Carioca," flute and voice sing beautifully together to complete the breezy mood of this Brazilian gem. Weir slows "Rock Me To Sleep" to an ultra-swingin’ tempo, providing the perfect canvass for sultry vocals and an edgy trumpet solo. Produced by singer/composer Gary Eckert, this album of eleven tracks takes listeners on a ride far from ordinary. With her heartfelt phrasing, impressive scatting, original repertoire, and simple approach, Rosana Eckert is truly a new jazz artist worth noticing.

Tracklist:

1. I Know I've Seen This Thing Before
2. Something's Gotta Give
3. Ela E Carioca
4. Mr. Hooper's Find It In A Minute Book
5. At The End Of The Day
6. You're Makin' Me Crazy
7. For Elizabeth
8. Lament
9. Rock Me To Sleep
10. One Mint Julep
11. You Are There

Personnel:

Rosana Eckert, vocals
Brian Piper, piano
John Adams, bass
Mike Drake, drums
Gary Eckert, percussion
Aaron Kelley, acoustic and electric guitar
Rodney Booth, trumpet and flugelhorn
Chris McGuire, tenor saxophone and flute